Design buildings, plan how spaces work and look, and guide projects from drawings to construction.
You may also see this posted as: Design Architect, Planner, Project Architect, Specifications Writer.
Offices and construction sites; desk design plus field visits.
Usually full-time; long hours near deadlines.
Realistic
working with tools, equipment, materials, or the physical world
Conventional
organizing information, following systems, and getting details right
Artistic
creating, designing, performing, or working without a rigid script
O*NET job zone 5 of 5
Extensive preparation—often graduate education and significant experience—is common.
Examples employers report—not a checklist you must already know.
May 2025 BLS wage & employment data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
BLS estimates 10.5% of workers in this occupation are self-employed.
Statewide medians are a better starting point than the national number. Your city and experience still matter.
Bachelor's degree
Training path: 5-year B.Arch or M.Arch + license.
Related work experience: None.
On-the-job training: Internship/residency.
Requires a degree, an internship period, and passing licensing exams.
Licensing rules and available programs change by state. These federal tools take you to the current official listings.
Long licensure road; the pay arrives after it.
Run the Reality Check — build the life you want and see the salary it takes, then compare it to this one.
Browse verified internships, fellowships, and programs — many paid — that lead into fields like this.
Free resume templates, interview practice, and getting-hired guides in the Careers kit.
Standard Occupational Classification 17-1011. Pay and employment from the BLS May 2025 OEWS survey; outlook and openings from the 2024–34 employment projections; job context from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; tasks, interests, work styles, software examples, and job zone from O*NET 30.3. See something off? Tell us.